Run Lola Run (1998) Run Lola Run may look like The Fifth Element from the posters and screenshots, but I guarantee you that they are completely different films, who just happen to star two European women with bright red hair. In this masterpiece of a sleek European crime thriller by Tom Tykwer, we get to see what would happen if Zed from Killing Zoe had the mystical powers from the end of Wayne's World. The film stars Franka Potente and Moritz Bleibtreu, with Heino Ferch and Herbert Knaup in supporting roles. Tykwer's most famous film, Run Lola Run is a crime thriller set in metropolitan Berlin. I can say with great conviction that this film is one of the best crime thrillers I have ever seen.
The film stars Potente as Lola, a young Berline woman who learns from a phone call that her boyfriend, Manni, is in deep trouble because he lost the money from a drug deal and has twenty minutes to find 100,000 marks before his boss Ronnie finds him. Lola goes out to get 100,00 marks before Manni can go to roba store. On her first run, she goes to get money from her father, but when she arrives, his mistress has just told him that she is pregnant. He dismisses Lola and tells her to tell her mother that he is never coming back. This is only one of the three alternate versions of the story in the film. Lola goes on runs over and over until she finally gets it right. In the end, no matter what, she and Manni always confirm their love for each other before this version of the story ends. I cannot tell you if or how Lola gets the money, but it is an exhilarating thrill-fest from start to finish. You'll have to watch and find out.
The film is so revolutionary for it's use of fast-paced editing and the repetition of the story in three alternate versions. Before this film, such a concept had seldom been explored. Run Lola Run is the best film that has and will ever use the "multiple versions of the story" concept. And the combination of animation, multiple angle shots reminiscent of cinema verite, and music video-like sequences makes this film a true cinematic revolution. I have not seen a single example of film prior to this gem that was able to successfully combine all different types of filmmaking to create one narrative film (with three narratives). A great example is the first scene in the first run. Lola drops the phone and the camera jump cuts quickly with Lola in different positions to show how worried she is about finding the money. Then many different people flash by in her memory, as she tries to find someone to ask for money. The repetition of names and faces until she decides on her father is somewhat like a game, which gives this film both a slightly campy feel and a heir of urgency to her run. And the animation sequence that shows the beginning of her run is pure imagination unbound. As the live-action portion of the run starts, the film transitions into sequences that could be taken straight out of a Eurodance music video. Tykwer's combination of these different elements helps to create a coherent film. The real revolutionary nature of the film is the meshing of all the techniques to create a unique blend of thriller, crime drama, and dark comedy.
1st Run Video:
I loved watching this film. I could easily give this film five stars, except for the screams. Lola screams when she's angry and breaks glass. That is not so cool. I really enjoyed the unique soundtrack, including the theme song, which I believe Potente sang herself; it is upbeat and fits perfectly with the tone of the film. But I can't be too harsh on the film. After all, most of the film is Lola running and I could watch Lola run all day long. And the acting is fantastic: it is a bit over-the-top but that just makes the film seem more…cinematic. It is overtly a story, and Tykwer never denies that. Event he "what could happen" angle shows how this film is a story and the events can change like a butterfly flapping its wings. Therefore, I will give a final rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. I would love to watch this film again, and, at about 81 minutes, its easy to fit into any busy schedule. It is a fantastic picture, and at R, any mature teen or young adult could easily see the film. The rating is only for language and violence, so this would be appropriate for any non-German who could handle an normal PG-13 thriller or action film. After seeing CLoud Atlas, "the most expensive independent film ever made" at a budget well over $100 million, I can see where many of that film's techniques originated in the early films of Tykwer (namely Run Lola Run). I feel that Run Lola Run is probably Tykwer's best film to date. He found his niche in this hip thriller type of film. But he has since moved on, and no longer makes such films. Cloud Atlas was very well written but not at all as revolutionary or as good of a film as Lola. But it's not like this film is going to disappear, so don't worry about Tylkwer's new direction. We'll always have these sweet 81 minutes of Lola. This, the late '90s was Tykwer's peak in filmmaking; I don't think he'll ever come back. But he has proved himself, and this one film is enough of an accomplishment for a lifetime. If you like the crime thrillers like Crank or Killing Zoe, you'll really enjoy the film. ANd if you are a fan of Tykwer, I bet you have already seen the film, so you don't need to be reading this review. Don't let the German dissuade you; I could hardly notice that the film was in a different language because I got so into the story (or stories). For a fan of the "what if?" concept or alternate versions of one story, like Sliding Doors, Melinda and Melinda, or Groundhog Day, you will simply love this film. Go watch it. Now. DOn't even finish reading this review. Watch it. Go on, I have nothing more to say. I am just writing to fill the page. So I bet if you have stayed to the end you either are really interested in the film or do not understand it and are looking for some explination. Well, I have no explanation; I think the film speaks for itself. If you don't understand it, re-watch Run Lola Run until you get it right, just like Lola.
The film stars Potente as Lola, a young Berline woman who learns from a phone call that her boyfriend, Manni, is in deep trouble because he lost the money from a drug deal and has twenty minutes to find 100,000 marks before his boss Ronnie finds him. Lola goes out to get 100,00 marks before Manni can go to roba store. On her first run, she goes to get money from her father, but when she arrives, his mistress has just told him that she is pregnant. He dismisses Lola and tells her to tell her mother that he is never coming back. This is only one of the three alternate versions of the story in the film. Lola goes on runs over and over until she finally gets it right. In the end, no matter what, she and Manni always confirm their love for each other before this version of the story ends. I cannot tell you if or how Lola gets the money, but it is an exhilarating thrill-fest from start to finish. You'll have to watch and find out.
The film is so revolutionary for it's use of fast-paced editing and the repetition of the story in three alternate versions. Before this film, such a concept had seldom been explored. Run Lola Run is the best film that has and will ever use the "multiple versions of the story" concept. And the combination of animation, multiple angle shots reminiscent of cinema verite, and music video-like sequences makes this film a true cinematic revolution. I have not seen a single example of film prior to this gem that was able to successfully combine all different types of filmmaking to create one narrative film (with three narratives). A great example is the first scene in the first run. Lola drops the phone and the camera jump cuts quickly with Lola in different positions to show how worried she is about finding the money. Then many different people flash by in her memory, as she tries to find someone to ask for money. The repetition of names and faces until she decides on her father is somewhat like a game, which gives this film both a slightly campy feel and a heir of urgency to her run. And the animation sequence that shows the beginning of her run is pure imagination unbound. As the live-action portion of the run starts, the film transitions into sequences that could be taken straight out of a Eurodance music video. Tykwer's combination of these different elements helps to create a coherent film. The real revolutionary nature of the film is the meshing of all the techniques to create a unique blend of thriller, crime drama, and dark comedy.
1st Run Video:
I loved watching this film. I could easily give this film five stars, except for the screams. Lola screams when she's angry and breaks glass. That is not so cool. I really enjoyed the unique soundtrack, including the theme song, which I believe Potente sang herself; it is upbeat and fits perfectly with the tone of the film. But I can't be too harsh on the film. After all, most of the film is Lola running and I could watch Lola run all day long. And the acting is fantastic: it is a bit over-the-top but that just makes the film seem more…cinematic. It is overtly a story, and Tykwer never denies that. Event he "what could happen" angle shows how this film is a story and the events can change like a butterfly flapping its wings. Therefore, I will give a final rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. I would love to watch this film again, and, at about 81 minutes, its easy to fit into any busy schedule. It is a fantastic picture, and at R, any mature teen or young adult could easily see the film. The rating is only for language and violence, so this would be appropriate for any non-German who could handle an normal PG-13 thriller or action film. After seeing CLoud Atlas, "the most expensive independent film ever made" at a budget well over $100 million, I can see where many of that film's techniques originated in the early films of Tykwer (namely Run Lola Run). I feel that Run Lola Run is probably Tykwer's best film to date. He found his niche in this hip thriller type of film. But he has since moved on, and no longer makes such films. Cloud Atlas was very well written but not at all as revolutionary or as good of a film as Lola. But it's not like this film is going to disappear, so don't worry about Tylkwer's new direction. We'll always have these sweet 81 minutes of Lola. This, the late '90s was Tykwer's peak in filmmaking; I don't think he'll ever come back. But he has proved himself, and this one film is enough of an accomplishment for a lifetime. If you like the crime thrillers like Crank or Killing Zoe, you'll really enjoy the film. ANd if you are a fan of Tykwer, I bet you have already seen the film, so you don't need to be reading this review. Don't let the German dissuade you; I could hardly notice that the film was in a different language because I got so into the story (or stories). For a fan of the "what if?" concept or alternate versions of one story, like Sliding Doors, Melinda and Melinda, or Groundhog Day, you will simply love this film. Go watch it. Now. DOn't even finish reading this review. Watch it. Go on, I have nothing more to say. I am just writing to fill the page. So I bet if you have stayed to the end you either are really interested in the film or do not understand it and are looking for some explination. Well, I have no explanation; I think the film speaks for itself. If you don't understand it, re-watch Run Lola Run until you get it right, just like Lola.
Video (Trailer):
Video (Full Film):